By Kathleen Leese

For Miami Valley Today

TROY — After 80 years of serving the Miami County area, Brower Stationers will be closing their doors for the final time after a beginning that dates back to 1944 during World War II.

Terry Brower and his sister, Lori Brower, as well as her son, Joel Salyer, are busy packing boxes, hugging longtime customers and friends and watching as empty racks and file cabinets find new homes elsewhere. They are even selling an old school desk and a couple of old manual typewriters among other things that serve as a reminder of days gone by.

The business, which was started by their grandfather, Frank Brower Sr., started out at 4 W. Main St. in Troy before moving to their current location at 16 S. Market St., where they have been since then. Their father, Frank Brower Jr., took over the business from his dad and eventually, Terry and Lori took over with Joel joining his family. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Terry’s wife, Diana, worked for Brower along with Megan Alexander, who Joel describes as an “honorary Brower” because she is such an important part of their lives, explaining she “was very good at what she did.”

“We both (Terry and Lori) worked there (Browers) as kids and teenagers. I washed the windows and took out the trash. She (Lori) worked the floor,” Terry said, noting he had to create his job. “I pretty much had to figure out what my route was going to be, repair furniture. We did a lot of furniture repair.”

He said the furniture repair business has dropped off.

Lori, who began working for Browers in 1976, has worked there since then and said their dad was not easy on them as a boss.

“He was a strict father. If we didn’t have anything to do, we would dust.”

She said they were not allowed to stand around.

Although Lori said her dad was tough on them, “He made me into the person I am,” and added that she tries “to live an honest life.”

Brower Stationers, which in addition to furniture repair, sold typewriters, art supplies, office and educational supplies and other items, tried to have a little bit of something for everyone, Joel recalled.

As for the changes in their business through the years, Lori said, “Technology has really changed. You’re watching from floppy disks to flash drives.”

She said, “The biggest change was when everything went to online shopping. …The little (businesses) we support one another. The younger generation do everything online. Shopping retail is just going down.”

Terry said that while COVID hurt their business, there have been other reasons forcing them to close their doors.

“That hurt us when all the county offices went to Amazon. The same with the city (of Troy),” although he said the loss of business from the city of Troy was “not as much.”

His sister agreed, saying business “really dropped” after the county and city business was lost. It became too much to recover from.

In addition to the loss of their business, the siblings are dealing with loss and illness in their personal lives.

“We lost mom (Louise) in April. Dad (is) in hospice at StoryPoint (in Troy),” they noted it has made a difficult situation much more challenging to deal with.

Lori said she will remember one thing, “The people. I love the people. Very loyal.”

She wanted to thank the customers who have stood by them, “I really appreciated their business and support and their friendship.”

But Lori also thinks about her brother after spending nearly a lifetime working together.

“My brother and I have worked together so long. We know each other. I wouldn’t have wanted to do this without him,” she said.

Lori said the building will be sold after they close, although a date is not yet set for that closing, allowing customers to come by one last time for a visit and to buy a little piece of retail history. For now, the business is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Brower Stationers can be reached by calling 937-335-2117.